A modified approach for vestibuloplasty in severely resorbed mandible using an implant-retained postoperative stent: a case report

Background. Severely resorbed mandibles often present a short band of keratinized tissue associated with a shallow vestibule. As a result, prominent muscle insertions are present, especially in the mental region of the mandible. This case report describes the deepening of the vestibular sulcus in an atrophic mandible by combining free gingival grafts harvested from the palate and a postoperative acrylic resin stent screwed on osseointegrated implants placed at the anterior region of the mandible. Study design. During the second-stage surgery, a split-thickness labial flap was reflected and apically sutured onto the periosteum. Two free gingival grafts were obtained and then sutured at this recipient site. A previously custom-made acrylic stent was then screwed onto the most distally positioned implants. To document the procedure`s stability over time, a metal ball was placed in the most apical part of the vestibule and standardized cephalometric radiographs were taken before and 6 months after the procedure. Linear measurements of vestibular depths over the observation time were realized using specific software for radiographic analysis. Results. The proposed technique augmented the band of attached masticatory mucosa, deepened the vestibule and prevented the muscle reinsertion. The difference between the 2 measurements of vestibular depths was 9.39 mm (initial 20.88 mm, final 11.49 mm) after a 6-month postoperative period. Conclusion. The technique, in combination with palatal mucosal graft and use of a postoperative stent, decreased the pull of mentalis muscle and provided a peri-implantally stable soft tissue around implants. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2008; 106: e7-e14)

Enxerto autógeno para aumento em espessura e ou altura do processo ósseo alveolar, transtornos de técnica cirúrgica, complicações e sobrevivência dos implantes

Pós-graduação em Odontologia - FOA

Padronização de um método para mensuração das tábuas ósseas vestibular e lingual dos maxilares na Tomografia Computadorizada de Feixe Cônico (Cone Beam)

INTRODUÇÃO: a espessura das tábuas ósseas que recobrem os dentes por vestibular e lingual constitui um dos fatores limitantes da movimentação dentária. O avanço tecnológico em Imaginologia permitiu avaliar detalhadamente essas regiões anatômicas por meio da utilização da tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico (TCFC). OBJETIVO: descrever e padronizar, pormenorizadamente, um método para mensuração das tábuas ósseas vestibular e lingual dos maxilares nas imagens de tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico. METODOLOGIA: a padronização digital da posição da imagem da face deve constituir o primeiro passo antes da seleção dos cortes de TCFC. Dois cortes axiais de cada maxilar foram empregados para a mensuração da espessura do osso alveolar vestibular e lingual. Utilizou-se como referência a junção cemento-esmalte dos primeiros molares permanentes, tanto na arcada superior quanto na inferior. RESULTADOS: cortes axiais paralelos ao plano palatino foram indicados para avaliação quantitativa do osso alveolar na maxila. Na arcada inferior, os cortes axiais devem ser paralelos ao plano oclusal funcional. CONCLUSÃO: o método descrito apresenta reprodutibilidade para utilização em pesquisas, assim como para a avaliação clínica das repercussões periodontais da movimentação dentária, ao permitir a comparação de imagens pré e pós-tratamento.

Equilíbrio corporal, envelhecimento e reabilitação vestibular: implicações para a Saúde Pública

Alterações no equilíbrio corporal das pessoas idosas podem gerar quedas e incapacidades diminuindo sua expectativa de vida e conseqüentemente sua qualidade de vida. Programas de reabilitação vestibular auxiliam na prevenção de tais desfechos e devem ser considerados entre as estratégias de intervenção a serem desenvolvidas na atenção básica

Menopausa: principais sinais e sintomas à avaliação vestibular computadorizada

Objetivo: Identificar os principais sintomas e sinais ao exame vestibular computadorizado em pacientes na menopausa. Método: Foram examinadas 24 pacientes com idades entre 46 a 66 anos. Analisaram-se os dados relativos à sintomatologia e achados ao exame vestibular computadorizado com vectonistagmografia realizado no ambulatório de otoneurologia da Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, em 2004 e 2005. Resultados: Entre as pacientes, 54,1 por cento faziam reposição hormonal. Em relação aos sintomas relatados, observamos cefaléia (58,4 por cento), hipersensibilidade a sons intensos (58,4 por cento), tontura (54,2 por cento), zumbido (50 por cento), hipoacusia (50 por cento), ansiedade (50 por cento), distúrbio neurovegetativo (41,7 por cento), vertigem (37,5 por cento) e depressão (37,5 por cento). Ao exame vestibular encontramos alterações do nistagmo de posicionamento (12,5 por cento), e prova calórica (54,2 por cento). Na conclusão do exame tivemos prevalência de síndrome vestibular periférica irritativa (54,2 por cento). Conclusão: Por meio dos resultados desta pesquisa concluiu-se que pacientes no período da menopausa apresentam elevada prevalência de sintoma otoneurológicos e alterações à vectonistagmografia computadorizada, com predomínio de síndrome vestibular periférica do tipo irritativo

Multifilter rotating shadowband radiometer calibration for spectral aerosol optical depth retrievals over Sao Paulo City, Brazil

Multifilter rotating shadowband radiometer (MFRSR) calibration values for aerosol optical depth (AOD) retrievals were determined by means of the general method formulated by Forgan [Appl. Opt. 33, 4841 (1994)] at a polluted urban site. The obtained precision is comparable with the classical method, the Langley plot, applied on clean mountaintops distant of pollution sources. The AOD retrieved over Sao Paulo City with both calibration procedures is compared with the Aerosol Robotic Network data. The observed results are similar, and, except for the shortest wavelength (415 nm), the MFRSR`s AOD is systematically overestimated by similar to 0.03. (c) 2008 Optical Society of America.

Depth-dependent local structures in thin films unraveled by grazing-incidence X-ray absorption spectroscopy

A method of using X-ray absorption spectroscopy together with resolved grazing-incidence geometry for depth profiling of atomic, electronic or chemical local structures in thin films is presented. The quantitative deconvolution of thickness-dependent spectral features is performed by fully considering both scattering and absorption formalisms. Surface oxidation and local structural depth profiles in nanometric FePt films are determined, exemplifying the application of the method.

Measurement of the depth of maximum of extensive air showers above 10(18) eV

We describe the measurement of the depth of maximum, X(max), of the longitudinal development of air showers induced by cosmic rays. Almost 4000 events above 10(18) eV observed by the fluorescence detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory in coincidence with at least one surface detector station are selected for the analysis. The average shower maximum was found to evolve with energy at a rate of (106 +/- 35-21) g/cm(2)/decade below 10(18.24) +/- (0.05) eV, and d24 +/- 3 g/cm(2)/ecade above this energy. The measured shower-to-shower fluctuations decrease from about 55 to 26 g/cm(2). The interpretation of these results in terms of the cosmic ray mass composition is briefly discussed.

Node-Depth Encoding and Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithm Applied to Large-Scale Distribution System Reconfiguration

The power loss reduction in distribution systems (DSs) is a nonlinear and multiobjective problem. Service restoration in DSs is even computationally hard since it additionally requires a solution in real-time. Both DS problems are computationally complex. For large-scale networks, the usual problem formulation has thousands of constraint equations. The node-depth encoding (NDE) enables a modeling of DSs problems that eliminates several constraint equations from the usual formulation, making the problem solution simpler. On the other hand, a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm (EA) based on subpopulation tables adequately models several objectives and constraints, enabling a better exploration of the search space. The combination of the multiobjective EA with NDE (MEAN) results in the proposed approach for solving DSs problems for large-scale networks. Simulation results have shown the MEAN is able to find adequate restoration plans for a real DS with 3860 buses and 632 switches in a running time of 0.68 s. Moreover, the MEAN has shown a sublinear running time in function of the system size. Tests with networks ranging from 632 to 5166 switches indicate that the MEAN can find network configurations corresponding to a power loss reduction of 27.64% for very large networks requiring relatively low running time.

Energy dissipation in depth-sensing indentation as a characteristic of the nanoscratch behavior of coatings

Wear behavior of coatings has usually been described in terms of mechanical properties such as hardness (H) and effective elastic modulus (E*). Alternatively, an energy approach appears as a promising analysis taking into account the influence of those properties. In a nanoindentation test, the dissipated energy depends not only on the hardness and elastic modulus, but also on the elastic recovery (W(e)). This work aims to establish a relation between plastic deformation energy (E(p)) during depth-sensing indentation method and the grooving resistance of coatings in nanoscratch tests. An energy dissipation coefficient (K(d)) was defined, calculated as the ratio of the plastic to the total deformation energy (E(p)/E(t)), which represents the energy dissipation of materials. Reactive depositions using titanium as the target and nitrogen and methane as reactive gases were obtained by triode magnetron sputtering, in order to assess wear and nanoindentation data. A topographical, chemical and microstructural characterization has been conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), wave dispersion spectroscopy (WDS), scanning electron (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. Nanoscratch results showed that the groove depth was well correlated to the energy dissipation coefficient of the coatings. On the other hand, a reduction in the coefficient was found when the elastic recovery was increased. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An In-Depth Study of the Barkhausen Emission Signal Properties of the Plastically Deformed Fe-2%Si Alloy

This paper presents the results of the in-depth study of the Barkhausen effect signal properties for the plastically deformed Fe-2%Si samples. The investigated samples have been deformed by cold rolling up to plastic strain epsilon(p) = 8%. The first approach consisted of time-domain-resolved pulse and frequency analysis of the Barkhausen noise signals whereas the complementary study consisted of the time-resolved pulse count analysis as well as a total pulse count. The latter included determination of time distribution of pulses for different threshold voltage levels as well as the total pulse count as a function of both the amplitude and the duration time of the pulses. The obtained results suggest that the observed increase in the Barkhausen noise signal intensity as a function of deformation level is mainly due to the increase in the number of bigger pulses.

Optimal irrigation depth for bean crops considering water constraints and farmer`s risk aversion level

Nowadays, the rising competition for the use of water and environmental resources with consequent restrictions for farmers should change the paradigm in terms of irrigation concepts, or rather, in order to attain economical efficiency other than to supply water requirement for the crop. Therefore, taking into account the social and economical role of bean activity in Brazil, as well as the risk inherent to crop due to its high sensibility to both deficit and excessive water, the optimization methods regarding to irrigation management have become more interesting and essential. This study intends to present a way to determine the optimal water supply, considering different combinations between desired bean yield and level of risk, bringing as a result a graph with the former associated with the latter, depending on different water depths.

On the relationship between the critical temperature and the London penetration depth in layered organic superconductors

We present an analysis of previously published measurements of the London penetration depth of layered organic superconductors. The predictions of the BCS theory of superconductivity are shown to disagree with the measured zero temperature, in plane, London penetration depth by up to two orders of magnitude. We find that fluctuations in the phase of the superconducting order parameter do not determine the superconducting critical temperature as the critical temperature predicted for a Kosterlitz–Thouless transition is more than an order of magnitude greater than is found experimentally for some materials. This places constraints on theories of superconductivity in these materials.